The 2010 Keuring is just weeks away - Are you as an owner prepared?

FOUR more weeks to go and the annual Friesian Keurings will be held all over the USA.  As most of the Friesians Horse owners know, the" Keuring" is a breed inspection where horses are evaluated against the standard set by the Koninklijke Friesch Paarden Stamboek (KFPS). The goal of a keuring is to determine how the presented horses can influence the quality of the breed and how they score in the search of the ideal Friesian Horse as directed by the breed registry.

 The Good, The Bad and the Pretty!

The "Keuring" is not a horse show:  it is strictly about the horse and its place in the registry.  The judges are interested to see the true conformation and true way of going.  Some features that are important during a Halter Class at a horse show, do not contribute at a "keuring". Use of artificial enhancements is not allowed, so spare the hoof-black, Show-Sheen, Color-Shampoos, hair dye, baby-oil and what else is inside of the Show Tack box.

What is important is that the horse is presented in its best natural ability for both conformation and movement.  Clipping is allowed and can be used to accentuate the good points and maybe mask the bad. The Keuring Judges however have seen it all, and they may give you an appreciative wink for trying.

Movement is a tricky one since movement can be enhanced by correct training. The trot is the easiest, the walk the most difficult to improve. At the day of the keuring, the "runner" is hired to present, not to train. It is important that the horse knows before the keuring how to show. The better the horse can stand, the easier it is for the judge to evaluate conformation.  When the horse is already used to handlers, runners, being away from home, it all helps in presenting the horse in the optimum "working" conditioning.  Every Keuring round, several horses do receive the dreaded "No Premium" simply because the inspector has not had the opportunity to see the 'True Gait' of the horse because it was not relaxed nor fit.

Traditionally, the Stamboek Keuring or adult inspection triggers a series of events. Usually 90 days before the Keuring, the young horses are collected from the summer pastures and taught the basics of working with the humans: halter-breaking, stabling, routine, longing, ground-driving, saddle and all aspects that are involved with the starting of young horses.  In the three months the horse will define some muscle tone and present healthy and fit at the keuring. Most of them will be presented shod (fitted with horse-shoes).

The results of the Keuring can determine future plans of the horse owners for the now Fully Registered Friesian Horse. Either it be riding, driving or breeding, much can be decided based on the outcome of the Keuring.  For instance, the scores and linear score-sheet of the fillies can be a great tool for selecting a stallion for breeding.   The adult (3yr old) is still only the second stage of many that are offered by the registry: Star, Crown, Model, Sport etc are additional qualifications that can lie ahead of your horses' future. The Keuring can help you to make decisions for the best of your horses' future.

The keuring also offers a perfect opportunity to talk to other Friesian horse owners, breeders, trainers and enthusiasts, as well as the inspectors themselves. Please keep in mind that the inspectors are independent and assigned by the Registry and cannot inform you to which stallion you should breed to. It can also give you ideas in which direction you can develop your horse:   your new "Adult Registered Friesian" is still just a very young horse, merely three and best be compared with a child that just entered Elementary School.

The Keuring is better seen as an extended service of the Friesian Horse Registry rather than a horse show.  For more information about the inspections, please contact your local chapter or the office of FHANA (Friesian Horse Association of North America)

For training and education of your Friesian Horse, contact:

Fryslan Valley Sport Horses

Arnold Warmels - Trainer

Melanie Roesner - Assistant Trainer

Lisa Warmels - Public Relations & Marketing

www.fryslanvalley.com

859.987.2717 home

859.312.9257 cell

859.294.7007 farm